[January]
New Year 1917
1st Jan. Monday.
Cloudy, warmer; a sprinkle of rain. I stayed until afternoon. At
Will
Cox’s for the night.
2d Tues. Cloudy.
Sunshine before 10 a.m. At Walter Leslie’s for dinner; and at Dr
Leslie’s tonight. Pleasant visits, warm receptions. The Dr is
Walter’s father: they are Baptists.
3d Wed. Cloudy.
Mr. Taylor brot. me and his sister-in-law (Miss Florence Leslie) to
Vass, in his auto. Dinner at Dr J.H. Matthis’ for supper and night
at Mr. D.A. McLaughlin’s – Presbyterians.
4th Thurs. Cloudy.
Heavy dew. My visits are all pleasant. Dinner at Bob Thomas’s. Night at
Prof. Duncan Matthews’ home. His brother, Dr M. brot. me out, in his
buggy - about one mile.
5th Friday Cloudy and
warm. Prof. M. gave me a check for five dollars which was a
surprise, but gratefully received Came back, in a car, with Sam Smith. Took
dinner at Clyde Thompson’s, the P.M. I married him to his wife, in 1912.
Mazie their child is fond of me. Rainy and stormy, this p.m.
6th Sat. Fair
&
colder. Quar Conf. at the Grove, this m. Rev. Jno. H. Hall, P.E., came in
for it. I left on the shoofly for Aberdeen. Joe Thompson, and Paul Davis
met me, with his car. Robey T. took me to his home for my headquarters.
Miss Eva Graham has been here a week. She left this p.m. for home.
7th Sunday Fair and
cooler We rode to town in Joe’s car. Robey, Fannie, and Paul, stopt at
their ch – Bap. Joe, his two boys (Duncan and Wesley) and I went to our Meth. Church S.S. and service,
F.S. Love, Pastor, preached. Dinner at Joe’s. All of us there.
Tonight, Joe & Ora, Rob& Fannie,
Paul and I attended our church service. Love preached again.
8th Monday. Partly
cloudy. Eclipse, last night, of the moon. I walked up town. Nothing worth
recording, I believe.
9th Tues. Fair. Left
Aberdeen, this m. and came to Jackson Springs to visit Mr. John McAskill’s
family, and especially Margaret (12. Jan. 31) A cordial welcome to me.
Margaret came from school about 2:00 p.m. We went to the spring. She is a
very sweet girl, and plays the piano well. She is smart, too.
10th [Wed.]
Mrs.
Mc and I visited “Uncle Bunk” Johnson’s home, this m. Mrs.
M.
was taken with a severe sick headache, this p.m. I left on the night train
on my return to Aberdeen. I spent the night at Joe Thompson’s. Joe is not
at home.
11th Thurs. Fair.
The head of the bed tipt over on me, last night, I caught it before it
got on me. Flurries of snow today.
12th Friday Fair and
real cold. Goat a card from Vance T. saying his folks were expecting me in
Hamlet, tonight. John Thompson and “J.W.” met me at the train, in Hamlet.
I arrived a cordial welcome from all the family here.
13th [Saturday] Nothing
special during the day. I walked up town.
14th Sunday
Cloudy. Vance, J. W. and I walked to our S S.. No service. M. H.
Tuttle,
P.C. was away. In the afternoon, Vance, J. W. and I went to see Mrs.
Lizzie Benton. Her 2 girls (12 & 6) were in bed, with measles. John T.
went to see his affianced - 18 months.
15th Monday. Cloudy,
drizzley. Came back to Aberdeen. Hired a car to Robey’s. Snow
broth? or something, and sleet is falling.
16th Tues. Cold and
cloudy.
17th Wed. Fairing
off. Left Aberdeen on S. A. L. [Seaboard Air Line Railroad – passenger
train] No. 12, and came to Vass again. Dan Smith met me with Dr
Matthews’ car, and I am at the doctor’s for hdqrs. Mrs. Benson,
wife of our pastor, here, died last night.
18th Thurs. Cloudy.
Dinner at Charlie Temple’s. I married him and his wife, January 1912.
C.
gave me $2.00, in bills, which is evidence of his friendship for me.
Sunshine, this p.m. I am back at Dr Matthews for the night.
19th [Friday] Partly
cloudy. Dinner at Mr. J.A. Keith’s. They are Presbyterians. Am at
Walter
Graham’s for tonight. Have a warm welcome here, too.
20th Sat. Cloudy. Some hail this m,
early. Ate dinner at Mrs. Irene Byrd’s, and especially with dear Camilla
(7). Back to A. Cameron’s tonight. Took a needed bath, tonight.
21st Sunday. Rainy.
Alton took me to S.S. at the Grove. Went in his car. Camilla Byrd
was with us, by my request. Back home for dinner. Nothing else special.
22d Monday. Cloudy and
warm, and rain. Am spending the night at G.S. Edwards’, as promised.
23d Tues. Cloudy.
Dinner at Will Cox’s. Spending the night at Mrs. Irene Byrd’s, to be with
Camilla.
24th Wed. Cloudy
and cooler. Camilla slept with me, last night. Dinner at Walter Graham’s.
As the weather is so inclement. I am spending the aft. and night with
them.
25th Thurs. Cloudy.
Walter gave me a $5.00 bill, this morn’g. Dinner at the “Honorable's”
- W.J.
Cameron’s. On leaving them, he handed me a V and said “You can
stick this in your pocket”, and I did. Back at A. Cameron’s for the night.
26th Fri. Fair and
colder. Plenty of frost. Bro. C. took my suit case to the Bank, and got
Neil McLain to take it in Mrs. McLaughlin’s car, to the
station. I left Vass about 3 p.m. and came to Cameron, N. C.. Again at Dr Matthews’
home. Bro. Cameron walked with me to the Vass Station, and gave me the
second $5.00 bill. He is a liberal Christian man.
27th Sat. Fair and
frosty. I rode in the car with Dr Matthews who had a call to Whitehall,
and I went with him as far as to Henry Matthews. I stayed there until he
returned from setting a broken arm for a negro. We stopt, at my request at
Mr. Teague’s where I spent a few minutes with her family of her
Mother and two children, Frankie & Reecie. They were glad to see me. I think.
Frankie is 15 and large for her age. Reecie gave me a dollar as a present.
I took it most reluctantly, but circumstances in the family trait forbade
my refusing it.
28th Sunday Fair.
Attended our S.S., and went to service in the Baptist Church.
Rev. Fulbright, pastor, preached and afterwards resigned the charge of
that church. Olivia, Ellen and I went for a walk, after dinner. At
Mrs.
Janie Muse’s tonight.
29th Monday. Rain.
Stayed until the afternoon. Went to the Baptist Church again, last night.
Miss Jacksie Muse was my company to and from preaching. She is the first
young lady I have asked for her company in many years. It is clearing,
this p.m.
30th Tuesday.
Foggy,
warm, and much dew. Walked part of the way to School with Ernestine and
Olivia Matthews. Bro. J.B. Cameron came in for me to go to his house,
this morning. I found a welcome there. The day has been a very fine one.
31st Wednesday. Cloudy.
About 4 p.m., Bro. Cameron kindly brot. me to Ed Thompson’s. Here I
have another warm welcome by the whole family. Stacey has returned from
Atlanta.
[February 1917]
Feb. 1st Thursday. Partly
fair. Ate dinner at Alsie Thompson’s. Stacey, who is now a barber, cut my
hair, this evening. It has been thundering, hailing and raining this p.m.
2d Friday. Cold, snow
fell, last night. Stacey brought me to Cameron, this a.m. Rev. J.M.
Benson came in from Vass, this m. We are at Dr Matthews home.
Bro. B. is
the pastor of the Vass Ct. [Circuit], and is here just for the day, he said.
3d Sat. Fair and
real cold. 8°, some one said. Another said 2°,
another said
the mercury was lost in the bulb: it is cold! Dr Matthews left
about noon 1 p.m., for a visit to his old home at East Bend, N. C. So cold, I
have stayed in about all day.
4th Sunday. Fair and very cold again. Went to our S.S.. Was at service in the Presby. Church. Left just after the sermon. Olivia and I drove out to
Mr. Tom Gaddy’s, about 2 miles, to see Myrtle, especially. The weather has
moderated right much but it is windy. We returned to Cameron. I went
around to Mrs. Muse’s to tell them goodbye. They are good friends of mine.
5th Monday.
Fair. A
light snow on the ground. I start on my way back to Hyde Co., this m.
Train, No. 12 was an hour and 20 mins. late. Left at 11-10. In Raleigh.
Am at the Hotel Wright. Bot a new suit-case, $10.00. I went to the State
House and saw the House of Rep. in session, for my first time.
Saw several I knew. Have a nice room at the Hotel.
6th Tues. Clear and
cold. Left Raleigh, at 6-1 a.m. over the N.&S Road for Washington, NC. Am at W.
[Washington]
about 11-20, a.m. Came to Clyde Harrison’s home, again. I had a cordial
welcome. They had invited guests for dinner & family relations. Up town, I
learned no boats were running, on account of ice over the river. No boat
in from Swanquarter. I must wait.
7th Wednes. Fair and
cold. Warmer, later, and overcast. Faired off during the day. No boat is
from Hyde County, today.
8th Thurs. Warmer,
and cloudy. A meeting of the pastors of the Washington Dist. is being
held at the District parsonage, today. I attended. No preachers in from
Hyde. About 14 pastors were present. Dinner at Mrs. C.G. Morris’s with
their guests, Rev S.T. Mogle. At the afternoon session. It is warmer and
cloudy. No boat in from Hyde yet.
9th Friday. Cloudy.
Rain last night. Snow this p.m. preceded by rain: dark clouds. No snow
laid. Sunshine after snow. Cleared off. Cold.
10th Saturday. Clear
and cold. Capt. Thad Brown, is here, from Swanqr. with his boat -
the Mot. Said would leave at 3 a.m. tonight. Rev R. R. Grant of S.
Qr. is
here, came in with the boat. Took a bath this m. in my room. At supper, I
had a phone call. Grant told me the boat would leave at 7-30, tonight. I
hurried down. We left the wharf at about 8-23, ar. at S. Qr.
about 3-10, a.m. Cloudy.
11th Sunday.
Cloudy and
cold. I took a room at the Lupton Hotel, as Mamie has my key. Grant
preached, this morn. I was there. No service tonight. I ate dinner at Mamie’s and took supper at
W.B. Swindell’s Hotel, tonight.
12th Monday. Fair
- Cold - Windy. Nothing to record.
13th Tues. Fair and
warmer. Dinner at W.B.S’s Hotel. Went to Grant’s this evening,
and stayed till mail time.
14th Wed. Fair
and warmer. Lila Ruth Lamb is spending several hours with me; ate dinner
with her, glad to say.
15th Thursday. Nothing
to record today. All is quiet.
16th Friday.
about the
same as yesterday. Nothing to recd.
17th Sat. Partly
cloudy. Auction sale of Chas. Brinn’s goods; he has failed. I bought a few
articles there.
18th Sun. Rainy.
Mrs. Lupton came to my room and invited me to breakfast on mullets. I
went. Attended S.S.. Dinner at Bob Tunnell’s, by invitation.
Service at night, by Grant, P.C. I attended the service.
19th Monday. Nothing to
record, today, I am very sure.
20th Tues.
Cloudy. Warm. Thunder about 10 a.m., followed by rain. Getting darker. More
rain. Cloudy. At 5-20 p.m., I have finished copying in this diary, the
events from Dec. 18th to today. I left this book at house, forgetting it,
and had to keep the record on legal copy paper. I began copying after
breakfast, and now I am through, I am glad to say. My eyes are strained,
and it has given me some headache from the strain.
21st Wed. We have
sunshine at last, so glad to say. Cloudy again, this afternoon. Ate dinner
with Mamie about 4 p.m. Prayer meeting tonight. Grant came home with
me. It has been raining.
22d Thurs.
Washington’s Birthday. It is a Holliday. Fair this morn’g.
23d Fri. Fair, this
m. Cloudy, this evening. Nothing else.
24th Sat. Fair,
etc. this m. Dinner at Mamie’s Bath in the eve. Rained.
25th Sunday. Clouds and
sunshine. At our S.S.. Went to service at the Baptist Church, ate
dinner at W.B. Swindell’s Hotel. Fair. Attended service again at the
Baptist Church, tonight. Spent a while, after the service with the pastor,
Rev. H.B. Hines. He announced that next fourth Sunday would close his
work, here. Told me, in his home, he was going to Spring Hope Church, the
first of April. Am to dine with his family, D.V. [Deo Volente - Latin
for "God willing"] next Sunday. It is fair,
and the moon shines.
26th Mon. A pleasant
day.
27th Tues. Fair and
springlike. Mr. Inglis, photographer, came in and spent awhile this
morning.
28th Wed. Cloudy
and warm. Mr. Inglis brot.a knife & scissors sharpener for me to use
as a demonstrator. I went out and got four orders. We each get ½ profit.
Sold one more, this p.m.
[March 1917]
March 1st Thurs.
Rainy
this m.
2d [Friday] Cloudy 48° at
7-30 a.m. I spent the day at Mamie’s. It has been an inclement
day.
3rd Sat. Cloudy
all day. Nothing worth recording, today.
4th Sunday.
“Just a
little sunshine”, this morning. 8-30 a.m. there was a heavy rain while we
were in Sunday School and there were several showers afterwards, and also
while I was at service in the Baptist Church. Dinner with Pastor Hines, as
promised last Sunday. Sunshine this afternoon. The p.m., I came home, got
several pieces of my music, and took them to Mrs. Hines to play - she is a
teacher of music. Cloudy now 6-25 p.m. H. went to Rose Bay to preach,
right after dinner. At our church tonight.
5th Mon. Stormy and
rain, about 1 a.m. Some sunshine, this morn’g. Pres. Woodrow
Wilson’s inauguration, today, his second term.
6th Tues. Fair and
cold - 40° at 6-45, a.m. Fair all day.
7th Wed. Fair. 40° at 8 a.m.
John made and brought, my dining table, this p.m. No
charge. I went to prayer meetings tonight; after which, I went home with
Bro. Hines, and his wife played selections, and we sang some sacred songs.
8th Thur. Very
cloudy, some rain, early. The 2d District Convention of Odd Fellows, is
to meet here, this p.m. Session this p.m. I acted as Chaplain. Open
session at Court House tonight - speeches of welcome & response, and
talks by S.S. Mann, & Rev. C L. Read, P.E. I ate supper by invitation,
at the Lupton Hotel. After the “Open Session”, we returned to the Lodge
room, several ladies gave us music and served cake and cream. After
receiving W.L. Spencer to the 1st and 2d degrees, the Lodge adjourned
and cov.ended.
9th Fri. Fair. 52° at 9 a.m. 1st Qr Conf. here today.
Read, P.E. Service by the
Elder, followed by the Conf. dinner at the parsonage. Grant and Read left
for Fairfield, this p.m. I am to hold services here, Sunday morning and at
Rosebay in the afternoon, D.V.
10th Sat. Fair.
Nothing special. The day has been pleasant.
11th Sunday Partly
fair. In the absence of the teacher - Willie Credle, I taught the Wesley
Bible Class. I preached this morning, for Grant who is with the P.E. –
Read. Ate dinner at Chas. A. Jones. A negro man - Cain Spencer, took me,
over a very rough road, to Rose Bay where I also filled Grant’s
apt. In this Ch. (R. Bay), we were 14 in number. It is now
cloudy and windy. Service tonight by Read – the P.E.
12th Mon. Cloudy,
and warm. Dewey Mason (18) came in for me about 1-30, to go out to see two
sick men - Jim Cooper and “Mit” Mason. He brought me back home this
evening. Fairing off.
13th Tues. Cloudy
and colder. Rain at 10 a.m. Cloudy all day. I have spent most of the day
in writing to various friends.
14th Wed. Cloudy
and warmer. Rainy before noon. Went to the parsonage for potatoes & Lard
for which he charged me nothing. Value of potatoes 14¢, the lard
@
22¢
= 711/2 Both 85¢. Cr. Preaching.
15th Thurs. Foggy,
followed by clearing, Mamie came around this m. I painted the dining table
and the two doors, here. Mamie and Mrs. Fenner Cherry [Ebbie
Ursula Mason] came around to see
me tonight.
16th Fri. Cloudy.
There was a “Musical” given by Mrs. Hines and her class, in the Academy
last night. I went with her.
17th Sat. Cloudy.
Some warmer. A gracious surprise came to me, about 1-40 p.m. Mr. William
Bonner and his son, Mr. Claud Bonner, brought me a “pounding” of 4 doz.
eggs (minus one), sweet potatoes.- about a peck, a jar of preserves, and a
pkg. of “Mother’s Oats”. I suppose this is the result of a hint I let
drop at the pounding they gave the pastor, R.R. Grant, some time ago. I
knelt in prayer, after they left (as they would not come in) and thanked
the Lord for this kindness to me. It is rainy and windy.
18th Sunday. Fair. Gave
Mamie a dozen of my pounding eggs. Went to S.S. Ate dinner at A.B. Berry’s, for the first time. We Odd Fellows went out about 4 miles to
bury the Secretary of the Lodge, here, “Jim” Cooper. Service at the house
by Mr. Henderlite, Presbyterian minister, and marched to the grave and
went thru the ritual service of the Order. I acted as Chaplain. I rode,
both ways, with Mr. Alec Berry, A.B. Berry and S.S. Mann. The cold wind
made it unpleasant for us all, I think. Went to see Bro. Bob Tunnell, this
p.m. He is sick. I remained for supper at Mrs. Tunnell's [Zudie
Jones Tunnell] request. At
church, tonight, Grant preached a good sermon. It was on consecration of [unrecognizable
word], hand, and foot. He scathingly denounced gambling, doping and
card playing. It was needed.
19th Mon. Fair
- Cold - 40° at 6-30 a.m. Dinner at
Mamie’s home.
20th Tues. Cloudy.
55° at 7-18. Went to the Baptist Pars. tonight.
21st Wed. Rainy.
Grant came in about 12-30. Rainy all day. No prayer meeting tonight.
Dr
L. H. Swindell (Plum) and Miss Margaret Mann were married, this evening,
by Rev. R R. Grant. Was a surprise. I was real glad to get letter from
Vass and from Cameron, tonight.
22d Thurs. Fair
this p.m. I went to see Bro. Lewis H. Swindell, as I heard he was sick.
Grant came in soon after. On our way back, Grant said he was going to have
Rev. & Mrs. Hines with them for dinner, next Saturday, and asked me to
go, too. I accepted saying that was my birthday. Will be 57. The day has
been fair.
23d Fri. Fair. A
little cool. Cloudy in the evening.
24th Sat. 1860-1917 = 57 years old today. It is warm, cloudy and blustery,
this morning. Mamie sent me some butter, by “John Madison”. I gave him a
penny. After a bit, he came back and brought me a piece of candy saying,
“Grandpapa, you want this?” I got enough.” I asked if he knew this was my
birthday. He said, “Is this your birthday? How old are you?” I said, “57”.
He looked amazed and said, “Good gracious!” and off he went. He is
seven years old. For my breakfast, I had postum, corn-flakes, eggs,
biscuit and st. potato, and tomatoes. It is raining now (8-12 a.m.) . Kind
of a drizzle rain. I have been to the parsonage, and ate a good dinner; on
account of the disagreeable day, Bro. Hines and family did not go, and so
I was the only guest. This has been, and is yet, a very rough day. It is
raining now, 5-10 p.m. It is fair tonight.
25th Sunday. Fair and
colder. At S.S.. At service in the Baptist Church. Dinner with
Mr. Alec Berry. He and I went to see Mr. Bob Tunnell who is sick. Tonight,
I attended service in the Baptist Church; it was the last service of Rev.
H. B. Hines pastorate here. He is to move to Springhope, and to begin his
pastoral there, this week. There was a large congregation out tonight.
After service, I went home with Rev. Hines, my last visit there. His wife
played some music she ordered for me, two pieces: “Falling Waters”, and
Alpine Glow”. I offered, or asked the charges; they insisted on no charge,
and I reluctantly accepted them as a present and also a small bottle of
jelly, both of which I greatly appreciate. I had prayer with them and came
home.
26th Monday. Fair and
some warmer. Increasing cloudiness, and cloudy, more or less, all day.
Looks likely for rain.
27th Tues. Rain:
rained most of the night. Bro. Hines came to see me this afternoon. The
weather was too bad for him and his family to go off on the boat, this m.
They are to leave in the m. D.V. [God willing] I ate an oyster supper, by invitation at
Rev. R.R. Grant’s.
28th Wed.
Fair and cooler. I conducted the lesson (116 Ps) at Prayer Meeting, tonight.
After this, we learned, with deep sorrow, that Mrs. W.B. [Wm.
Benners] Swindell (Miss
Emma) had a stroke of paralysis. I went in.
29th Thurs. Fair and
windy. 5 ms to 3, I have been out to Mrs. Joe [Joseph Madison] Rayburn’s for
dinner. [Mrs. Rayburn
was born Theresa Spain Lupton [[sister of Mr. Silas Lupton
of the Hotel. This Rayburn branch of the family settled on spelling it
Raburn.] Mrs. Swindell is better. Spent three or more hours at Mr. Bob Tunnell’s this p.m. I ate no supper, as I felt too full.
30th Fri. Fair and
cool. Mrs. S. [Swindell] about the same. Kept alive with digitalis and
strychnine. Mamie gave me some fresh sausage and three eggs. At a debate,
tonight. Govt. ownership of rail-roads. The negative, of Sladesville, won:
a Mr. O’Neal, and Miss Dell Cutler. Mrs. Swindell is still in
extremis. I went in to see her, tonight.
31st Sat. Fair,
pleasant. Mrs. S. “is still holding on” to life, but is hopeless.
Later - She died about 10 a.m. Will be burried tomorrow.